Linda Rae O'Leary

Linda Rae (Wilkerson) O'Leary, 71, went to be with our Lord on September 16, 2016, following a series of severe strokes that began on July 29, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Gerry (Strauss) Wilkerson. Linda is survived by her husband of 11 years and five months, Dr. Emmett O'Leary, brother Jerry (Raynae) Wilkerson, their daughters Leah Perry and her son Brandon and daughter Kylana; Shalan (Greg) Diaz and their son Dexton and daughter Jillian and her brother Bill Wilkerson. Linda was born in Salida at the Rio Grande Western Hospital on June 13, 1945. She always considered the 13th as her lucky number especially when it occurred on Fridays. She lived in Cotopaxi and Manitou Springs but spent most her life in Pueblo. She attended Centennial High School and excelled in journalism earning many awards and considerable recognition for her talent in that area. She was an excellent writer and was exceptionally creative. She held several receptionists and secretarial positions over the years but was employed mostly at CSU-Pueblo when it was Southern Colorado State College (SCSC), the University of Southern Colorado (USC) and then CSU-Pueblo. She worked in the only student residence hall at that time, was the activities coordinator in the Occhiato Student Center (a job she really enjoyed and received countless letters of thanks from college and community organizations who held banquets there) and as the administrative assistant in the Department of Mathematics where she still has many friends from those years. Linda retired in December of 2004 and a large number of administrators, professors, students and others came to that gathering to help her celebrate. Emmett and Linda were married on April 16, 2005, on his father's 113th birthday. (There's that #13 again.) 'Their' song is 'Unforgettable' by Nat King Cole and anything by The King, Elvis Presley. Linda loved her husband, their beautiful home in Pueblo West, their many pets (4 cats: Buddy, Frank, Fritz, Beau and 4 dogs: Star, Sage, Sassy, Scooter) birds, rabbits, squirrels, spring, fall, sunrises, sunsets, the mountains and mountain streams. Two of her favorite television programs were the soap opera Days of Our Lives and the Today Show on NBC. She especially liked Hoda Kotbe. She also enjoyed reading a good novel. Linda loved to cook and always prided herself on her superb meals. Her husband Emmett always complimented her on her mouth-watering tasty meals. She liked to bake, too. Her favorite was chocolate chip cookies. She had a Green Thumb and each year she produced an outstanding variety of flowers and continuously blooming rose bushes. She looked forward to the football seasons each year and cheered on the Broncos, Centennial High School teams, the Fighting Irish (O'Leary) of Notre Dame, and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (her husband's alma mater). She was also a fan of the UCONN Women's Basketball teams who have won all those national titles. Linda loved our Lord and Savior and she loved life. She always tried to make life better and more enjoyable for everyone around her during her lifetime. She is now in Heaven with our Lord. Special thanks to everyone at Parkview Medical Center, Interim Home Health Care, Villa Pueblo Rehabilitation and other community service representatives who helped us through this stressful time. Special thanks also to family and friends who sent their well-wishes and prayers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made direct to CSU-Pueblo Foundation, 2200 Bonforte Blvd., Pueblo, CO 81001. Online condolences, www.montgomerysteward.com